Daniel Melamed is directed by Brooklyn Supreme Court officers to walk into the court holding pen to be taken to jail. Eagle photo by Paul Frangipane

By Paul Frangipane

Brooklyn Daily Eagle

A Brooklyn real estate developer previously convicted of subjecting tenants to harsh conditions to push them out of rent-controlled apartments was cuffed at Brooklyn Supreme Court on Thursday to serve 20 days in jail.

Daniel Melamed paid $200,000 forfeiture to secure 20 days in jail instead of 30, but when his attorney offered to pay $250,000 to dodge time all together, the judge denied.

Chun said he didn’t want to give the impression criminals could pay their way out of jail whenever they wanted. When he offered an option to pay $150,000 for only 15 days in jail, Melamed chose the handcuffs.

The slumlord previously appeared in a red-lined suit to plead guilty to grand larceny, residential mortgage fraud and forgery charges on Nov. 27, 2017, a case aside from the wrongful evictions. But on Thursday he showed up in blue jeans and a gray hoodie.

In handcuffs, he hung back and looked to his supporters while court officers tried to escort him out. Upon his release on Feb. 14, he will return to court to be sentenced to five years’ probation.

While he confessed to several scams between 2011 and 2014 where he defrauded banks using fraudulent documents to help buy Brooklyn property, he was convicted in a bench trial for forcing his tenants out.

Three tenants at 1578 Union St. near Troy Avenue previously testified they had to bathe in buckets and heat their apartments with their ovens when Melamed turned off the heat. They also recollected being surrounded by lead dust that exceeded acceptable measures by up to 88 times from construction.

In his fraud plea, Melamed also admitted to illegally purchasing a $250,000 property in 2013 using a shell company. He then sold it for $1.25 million the next year.

“Daniel Melamed swindled taxpayers and harassed tenants in order to line his own pockets. Now he’s in jail,” said Attorney General Schneiderman in a statement. “My office will use every tool we have to bring bad landlords to justice.”

Melamed will also be barred from buying or selling rent-controlled properties while on probation and will be ordered to pay restitution at his next court appearance.

January 25, 2018 - 2:12pm

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